Update: Earle the Squirrel......

[Landpimp]

Earl ROCKS! we just love the updates.......your OK in my book

[CJF]

I'm embarrassed to say how long it took me to figure out he's probably named after Steve Earle. I hope my belated realization is at least correct?

Curtis

[flintknapper]

Originally Posted by CJF

I'm embarrassed to say how long it took me to figure out he's probably named after Steve Earle. I hope my belated realization is at least correct?

Curtis

God forbid!!!!!!

Actually, I can't stand Steve Earle. Don't care for his music, his politics, or the man in general.

How he managed to marry Allison Moorer is a complete mystery to me (what was she thinking). I do like a couple of her songs though, in particular "A soft place to fall". She sang part of that song in the movie "The horse whisperer". Very traditional sounding country music...which I like.

No, the name Earle is in no way "dedicated" to anyone. It was simply chosen because it rhymes with squirrel and the unique spelling is only to set it apart.

Certainly not meant to honor Steve Earle (Yuk). Sorry.

[CJF]

Originally Posted by flintknapper

Certainly not meant to honor Steve Earle (Yuk). Sorry.

Ya know, after I posted that, I thought more about some of the things he's done and said, and then went, "Hmm..., that doesn't really sound like ol' Flint."

Sorry 'bout that!

Curtis

[flintknapper]

Good Earle!

Earle has learned to get some of his water and minerals from the “weep holes” in his B.O.T.



In the past… he has just crawled right over them. There are four of them in total.

Two are fairly dry…but provide dried sap/mineral deposits, while the others are always active (weeping) except during the winter months (roughly two months here).




Of course, Earle is not quite ready to give up his “hand outs” just yet. But we’re working on that.




He did just fine last night….having weathered a severe storm that blew through. Lots of rain, lightning, and high winds.

Apparently, he’s a big boy now!

[macneill]

This is a great thread! Thanks for sharing.

Brings back fond memories of my childhood raising grackles and robins fallen from their nests.

[alex e]

Earle is awesome.

[BeefBarley]

YouTube - Dixie Chicks - Goodbye Earl

[Spud]

Rock on Earle...

Have you fed him any Squirrell nut zippers?

[NorCal Cruiser]

What's happening with Earle?

[flintknapper]

Originally Posted by NorCal Cruiser

What's happening with Earle?

Been nursing Earle back to health the last few days.

I am pretty sure he "took a tumble" sometime this past Saturday.

I didn't see Earle anytime Saturday following his morning feeding (which is not too unusual).

Earle is not always in his B.O.T., he will often go into a large Hackberry tree nearby and play around on it, so I don't always spot him when I go to look....and he doesn't come down when I call unless he wants to (imagine that).

I went to check on him about noon Saturday and couldn't find him. I noticed he had not been down to his "hand-out" bowl to eat, but I didn't really think much of it.

Checked on him again about 6:00 pm, couldn't find him, called and called, no Earle.

I was about to give up when I see Earle poke his head out of his nest. With some coaxing...he slowly crawled out and came down the tree like a glob of molasses.

I could tell he didn't feel well... or was in physical pain. He took a small drink of water...but wouldn't eat anything except a very small piece of apple.

He was just sitting there on my arm very still...and was "coughing" a little once in a while.

I took him inside the house and wrapped him up in a small dish towel with just his head sticking out. Got his old "baby bottle" and put a bit of Gatorade in it. Got him to take some of that.

I sat with him in the lounge chair till nearly dark....just petting him and trying to comfort him. Right before dark I got the extension ladder out and climbed up to put Earle back in his nest for the night.

The following morning he wasn't much better...but he did come down the tree to eat when I called. Normally he is up at the crack dawn ...has already eaten and gone somewhere on his B.O.T.

I hand fed him some pecans, let him drink and kind of looked him over. He was in obvious pain when I handled him....so I quit (quick thinking there Flint). I put him back in his nest and left him alone.

Sunday afternoon late...he was sitting on top of his nest (a good sign). Monday morning...a bit better. Moving around some, but not running anywhere.

Vast improvement on Tuesday....and Today he met me on his perch at the base of the tree. Ate pretty good and then wanted to "fight" some.

I think Earle's confidence got the better of him..and he ended up taking a fall. That is my best guess. I have been watching him run full tilt out to the end of limbs smaller than my little finger.

To make matters worse, Earle now likes to go the top 1/3rd of his B.O.T. to survey things. Well....that is about 60-85 feet up!

I don't worry about him when he is only 20-30 ft. up, I believe he can take that kind of a fall and come out of it relatively unscathed, but not from "way up there".

Anyway, he's doing much better...and I hope he has learned a lesson in the process.

Apparently, juvenile squirrels are just like human teenagers: If you can just manage to keep them alive until they "grow up" they should do just fine.

[My wife said no FJ!]

Great thread...it's been said before, but I'll say it again, thanks for sharing Flint

My parents have a female grey that has been coming around for about 6 years now. Made her nest on a tree next to the house. pretty cool that she is so tame with us...and it seems no one else.

I'll be back for updates

[alex e]

Man....Earle is the coolest. MORE,MORE,MORE!

[flintknapper]

Alex,

I'll try to get some more pics. in the next few days.

Earle is completely recovered from his "tumble" (or whatever had him down).

In fact, I just came in from playing with him. He really, really...loves to attack my fingers. He will sit up on my shoulder looking down at my hands.....and then suddenly race down my shirt and pounce on one hand or the other.

He will grab a finger/thumb in his mouth and then "scuff" my hand with his hind legs. He doesn't bite hard (usually) but to look at it...you'd think he was trying to leave just a nub!

I really need to get some video of it, its just too funny.

Earle is a little more slender now....kinda of teenager looking (and acting). He is spending about equal amounts of time in the Hackberry tree next to his B.O.T. and is much more aware of things moving around him.

He's pretty good about getting into his nest at dusk (or even before) so that should help keep him alive.

[flintknapper]

Earle has grown a little more and you can see here that his tail has gotten bushy, he is constantly grooming it (Earle is kind of vain I think):



Here he is ready to play a little:



Earle in full “pounce”, sorry for the blurred pic. I was shooting at 1/800th of a second….but he’s fast:



Here, Earle is giving me a chance to “give up” before he takes things up a notch:



I can’t really capture a good “hand mauling” with pics. I need to take some video.

Its all just play.

[macneill]

I love this thread.

[Skillet]

Classic...

[alex e]

Earle for president!

[highlandcruzer]

The "censorship" cracked me up. Hiding Earle's nuts.


Good stuff Flint. Keep it coming.

[flintknapper]

Originally Posted by highlandcruzer

The "censorship" cracked me up. Hiding Earle's nuts.


Good stuff Flint. Keep it coming.

Well....I wanted to keep this "G" rated if at all possible.

Can't do that with Earle showing us the Full Monty.

[highlandcruzer]

Originally Posted by flintknapper

Well....I wanted to keep this "G" rated if at all possible.

Can't do that with Earle showing us the Full Monty.

I understand. That Earle just has no shame at all.

[BeefBarley]

i think it is time for Earle to get some squirrel ass....

[cruiser88]

This is wicked cool.

[flintknapper]

Originally Posted by BeefBarley

i think it is time for Earle to get some squirrel ass....

Good grief, please take it to chat...and don't ruin this thread.